Veendam Day 9 - Pt. Stanley, Falkland Islands

Here is a photo of the ship entering Port Stanley.
Whale Bone Arch, erected in 1933 to celebrate 100 years of British rule.

The Falkland Islands consist of 2 main islands and a group of small landmasses located 300 miles east of the Argentine Patagonian coastline and 480 miles northeast of Cape Horn. It is the most accessible of the sub-Antarctic islands. With a population of approximately 2000, 2/3 of which live in Port Stanley, Falkland Island is the smallest, most remote capital city in the world. This very British island was invaded by Argentina in 1982, but a counter-invasion by Britain led to reclamation of the island within 3 months. Its pubs, neat gardens, British ‘bobbies’, red mailboxes and the Union flag flown over the Government House leave no doubt that British roots run deep. This very unique port is built on the north facing slope of the island to catch the sun year round and overlooks Stanley Harbour. Houses with brightly corrugated metal roofs dot the hillside and are a striking contrast to the surrounding countryside. The residents are extremely hospitable as they welcome you to this very isolated, but not insular, part of the world.

The climate is temperate, but generally cold, wet and windy. Even in summer the maximum temperature is 75 F. Now y’all see why we had to pack summer things and warm clothes. This is summer time down here!